39 Facts About Gaku Shibasaki

Gaku Shibasaki is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for J1 League club Kashima Antlers and the Japan national team.

Later in August 2010, Gaku Shibasaki was among 33 players named as the best players by the National Sports Committee of the Football Association .

Ahead of the 2011 season, Gaku Shibasaki was given a number twenty shirt at the club.

Gaku Shibasaki later regained his first team place, playing in the central midfield position following his return from injury.

At the start of the 2013 season, Gaku Shibasaki continued to regain his first team place, playing in the central midfield position.

Later in the 2013 season, Gaku Shibasaki helped the side finish fifth place in the league, but missed out on qualifying for the AFC Champions League.

Gaku Shibasaki then scored two goals in two matches between 27 July 2014 and 2 August 2014 against Urawa Red Diamonds and Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Ahead of the 2016 season, Gaku Shibasaki switched number shirt from twenty to ten.

At the start of the 2016 season, Gaku Shibasaki continued to regain his first team place for the side, playing in the central midfield position.

Gaku Shibasaki rose to prominence after scoring twice for Kashima Antlers in the final of the 2016 Club World Cup against Real Madrid.

Gaku Shibasaki's departure was confirmed by Kashima Antlers the next day.

Gaku Shibasaki was linked with a move to Las Palmas but chose instead to join CD Tenerife.

Since making his debut for CD Tenerife, Gaku Shibasaki said in an interview with Marca that his style of football fit well in Spain and acknowledged that the differences of "the pace of the game" in Spain compared to Japan.

Gaku Shibasaki was previously linked with a move to UNAM and SD Huesca.

Gaku Shibasaki remained an integral part of the club once the season resumed behind closed doors.

On 4 September 2020, Gaku Shibasaki agreed to a three-year contract with CD Leganes, recently relegated to the second division as a result of the relegation clause being activated.

Gaku Shibasaki was previously linked with a move to Las Palmas but opted to join Leganes instead.

Since joining CD Leganes, Gaku Shibasaki became a first team regular for the club, playing in the midfield position.

Gaku Shibasaki joined the first team of the club on 4 September 2023 and was assigned squad number 20.

Ahead of the 2024 season, Gaku Shibasaki was appointed captain and given the number 10 shirt.

In 2008, Gaku Shibasaki was called up to the Japan U-16 squad for both the Montaigu Tournament and Viktor Bannikov Memorial Tournament.

In January 2009, Gaku Shibasaki was elected Japan U-17 national team for the first time.

Later in October 2009, Gaku Shibasaki was called up to Japan U-17 squad again for the 2009 U-17 World Cup in Nigeria and wore the number 10 shirt for the U-17 side.

Gaku Shibasaki played in all three matches, as Japan U-17 were eliminated in the group stage.

Six months later, Gaku Shibasaki was called up to the Japan U19 squad but never made an appearance for the U-19 side.

In February 2012, Gaku Shibasaki was called up to the Japan for the first time ahead of a match against Iceland by Manager Alberto Zaccheroni.

On 9 September 2014, Gaku Shibasaki debuted and scored a goal for Japan national team against Venezuela.

Gaku Shibasaki later made two more appearances by the end of 2014.

In December 2014, Gaku Shibasaki was elected Japan for 2015 Asian Cup in Australia.

Five months later, Gaku Shibasaki was called up to Japan for the EAFF East Asian Cup in China.

Gaku Shibasaki was featured three times in the tournament, as they finished last place.

Gaku Shibasaki then made two more starts in the World Cup, as Japan progressed through the knockout stage in the tournament.

Gaku Shibasaki later played two more matches of the tournament, which saw the national side reaching the final for the first time since 2011.

Almost a year later, Gaku Shibasaki was called up to the Japan squad for a match against Cameroon and Ivory Coast.

Gaku Shibasaki went on to make three starts for Japan by the end of the year.

Gaku Shibasaki has two older brothers, whom one of them got him into football.

Gaku Shibasaki idolised Alessandro Del Piero, Francesco Totti and Hidetoshi Nakata.

Gaku Shibasaki began a relationship with the actress and singer Erina Mano and their relationship wasn't made public until on 25 November 2017.

In September 2015, it was announced that Gaku Shibasaki was appointed as a support leader of the 94th National High School Soccer Championship.